RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic, a serious global health threat, has excruciating social and economic implications given its transmissibility, lack of therapy, and severity. In such a situation, pharmacists as frontline healthcare professionals hold a significant position to tackle. This study was designed to explore the perception and preparedness of pharmacists working in public sector hospitals amid such a pandemic in Pakistan. METHODS: A total of 11 pharmacists were interviewed for this qualitative study design through a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. RESULTS: The thematic content analysis yielded six major themes; understanding of COVID-19, perceptions towards COVID-19, preventive aspects, management aspects, changes to lifestyle, and psychological aspects. Though efficient preparedness and approach to fighting against such pandemics were reported, pharmacists were found susceptible to infection and psychological stress. They also expressed lockdown as an effective measure to prevent the disease from spreading but still were concerned about its economic and social impact. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate planning and facilities from the national level should be made available for strengthening the hospital pharmacy service that helps improve the overall healthcare system of low- and middle-income countries like Pakistan. The provision of a protective facility, incentives, and occupational health surveillance packages are deemed necessary to boost the self-esteem and morale of hospital pharmacists that safeguard the early and effective management of such disasters.
RESUMEN
Since the early 1950s, for medication management, the hospital formulary system subsisted as a list of drugs into the supply chain management process in hospitals. With the advent of pharmacy practice services, the system now is more oriented towards the rational use of drugs taking into account the safety of therapy, cost-effectiveness, and uninterrupted availability of drugs to improve and reflect upon the clinical judgment of healthcare professionals. Though very few hospitals in Nepal have adopted hospital formulary system, the perfect practice is still skimpy. The formation of drug and therapeutic committee along with the establishment of hospital pharmacy services is a growing trend with the arrival of hospital pharmacy guidelines 2072, thus, a positive spill-over of the hospital formulary system to each hospital in Nepal would be valuable in promoting rational drug therapy. Keywords: Cost-effectiveness; hospital formulary system, rational drug therapy.